When I read the article entitled "Building a Social Networking Environment at the Library," (after failing to access MySpace for Books) I began to wonder whether a little moderation might be in order. True, libraries are seen as stodgy institutions slow to change. But maybe there's value in taking it slow. Will, for example, the emphasis on technology to build "community" distract the library from its traditional mission? Given limited resources, will any other priorities receive short shrift? Will such activities leave out a segment of patrons who are not crazy about going online, creating profiles, and making friends, but who just want to read books? There's a certain "keeping up with the Jones" in thrusting libraries into the MySpace world--a world dominated by self to the point of narcissism, by the trivialization of community and communication, and by--via unnaturally created friendships--the distortion of reality and its associated risks. That libraries want to seem hip and relevant is understandable, yes. But has anyone stood back and reflected on this trend? Any critics? Playing Devil's Advocate, if nothing else, demands at least a temporary shift in thinking and perspective.
Gather is a huge departure from the MySpace mentality and could be an interesting place to visit from time to time. It's serious and informative. I'm not so sure about Ning; it could easily become another MySpace--given enough time and exposure to a larger audience.
Classroom 2.0 could be a good resource for keeping up with Web 2.0 applications.
43 Things strikes me as an exercise in self-involvement. I would be embarrassed to expect others to share in my goals or to even care about them. This sort of activity is too self-indulgent from my perspective.
Nings and other social networks that provide information and thoughtful commentary appeal to me. Most of the resources I have listed above have tremendous potential as alternative means for gaining new insights and perspectives. On top of all the other ways to access and share information, the burden of information overload is a distinct possibility, however. Perhaps setting aside an hour a week to review these sites would be sufficient.
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